Moving Tips: The Complete Guide to Packing and Moving House
Moving house can be exciting, but without proper planning, packing and organising your belongings can quickly become stressful. Whether you are moving to a new home, apartment, office or relocating to another city, having the right moving boxes and packaging supplies can make the entire process easier and more efficient.
At Box Store, we supply quality moving boxes and packaging solutions to help you pack, protect and organise your belongings from the moment you start packing until the last box is unpacked.
Here are our practical moving tips to help make your next move easier.
1. Start Planning Your Move Early
One of the biggest mistakes people make when moving is leaving everything until the last minute. Ideally, start planning several weeks before moving day.
Create a simple moving plan and work through your home one room at a time. Starting early gives you enough time to sort through your belongings, purchase the correct moving boxes and packing materials, and pack without unnecessary pressure.
Make a list of important tasks such as:
- Choosing your moving date
- Booking a moving company if required
- Purchasing moving boxes and packaging supplies
- Sorting unwanted items
- Packing non-essential items first
- Labelling your boxes
- Arranging utilities and services
- Preparing an essentials box for moving day
2. Declutter Before You Pack
Moving is the perfect opportunity to get rid of items you no longer need.
Before putting something into a box, ask yourself whether you have used it recently and whether it is worth taking to your new home.
Consider donating, selling or disposing of:
- Clothes you no longer wear
- Old books and magazines
- Unused kitchen equipment
- Broken or unwanted furniture
- Children’s items that are no longer needed
- Duplicate household items
The less you move, the fewer moving boxes you need and the easier your move will be.
3. Choose the Right Moving Boxes
Using the correct box for each type of item can make a significant difference.
Avoid putting extremely heavy items into large boxes. Large boxes are better suited to lighter, bulky belongings such as bedding, towels, cushions and linen.
Smaller, stronger boxes are generally better for heavier items such as books, canned goods and small appliances.
At Box Store, you can find a range of moving boxes in different sizes to help you pack everything from household items and clothing to books, kitchenware and larger belongings.
4. Don’t Overfill Your Boxes
One of the most common packing mistakes is making boxes too heavy.
A box that is difficult to lift can become a safety problem and may also break during transportation.
A good rule is to distribute heavy items between several boxes rather than putting everything into one box.
For heavier belongings, choose a suitable strong carton and make sure the bottom is properly secured with quality packing tape.
5. Protect Fragile Items Properly
Glassware, crockery, ornaments, electronics and other delicate belongings need additional protection.
Use suitable packaging materials such as:
- Bubble wrap
- Packing paper
- Protective sheets
- Corrugated board
- Fragile stickers
- Quality packing tape
Wrap fragile items individually where appropriate and avoid leaving large empty spaces inside the box. Movement inside a box can increase the risk of damage during transportation.
Clearly mark boxes containing fragile items so they can be handled with extra care.
6. Use Quality Packing Tape
A strong moving box is only as secure as the tape holding it together.
Use good-quality packing tape and seal the bottom of every box securely before filling it.
For heavier boxes, consider reinforcing the bottom with additional tape. This can help prevent the box from opening when it is lifted or carried.
7. Label Every Box
Labelling your boxes is one of the simplest ways to make moving and unpacking easier.
Write the room and general contents on the outside of each box. For example:
KITCHEN – PLATES & GLASSES
BEDROOM – WINTER CLOTHING
LOUNGE – BOOKS
You can also mark boxes containing fragile items clearly.
A permanent marker is an inexpensive but extremely useful addition to your packing supplies.
8. Pack One Room at a Time
Try to keep items from the same room together.
Packing room by room makes it much easier to organise your new home and reduces the amount of time spent searching through boxes.
Start with items you don’t use every day, such as:
- Decorations
- Seasonal clothing
- Books
- Spare kitchenware
- Guest-room items
- Collectibles
Leave everyday essentials until closer to moving day.
9. Prepare an Essentials Box
Don’t pack everything away and then discover you have no idea where your toothbrush, phone charger or kettle is.
Prepare one or two moving day essentials boxes containing items you may need immediately.
Depending on your needs, this could include:
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Phone chargers
- Basic cleaning products
- Toilet paper
- Towels
- Change of clothes
- Basic kitchen items
- Snacks and drinks
- Important documents
- Children’s essentials
Keep these boxes easily accessible rather than loading them underneath other boxes.
10. Take Extra Care When Packing Electronics
Electronics can be expensive and easily damaged.
Where possible, keep the original packaging. If you no longer have it, use suitable protective packaging and a strong box.
Wrap screens and delicate electronic equipment carefully and avoid placing heavy items on top of them.
Take photos of cable connections before disconnecting complicated equipment. This can make setting everything up again much easier.
11. Protect Furniture During the Move
Boxes aren’t the only things that need protection.
Furniture can be scratched, chipped or damaged during loading and transportation.
Consider using suitable protective materials such as bubble wrap, corrugated board, protective sheets or other moving supplies around vulnerable surfaces and corners.
Protecting furniture before it leaves the house can help prevent unnecessary damage during the move.
12. Don’t Forget About Important Documents
Keep important documents together and transport them separately where possible.
These may include:
- Identification documents
- Property or rental documents
- Insurance information
- Financial documents
- School records
- Medical records
- Vehicle documents
- Important contracts
Keep important paperwork somewhere secure and easily accessible.
13. Pack a Little Every Day
You don’t have to pack your entire home in one weekend.
Packing a few boxes every day can make the process much more manageable.
Start with rooms and belongings that are used least frequently and gradually work towards the items you use every day.
This approach can significantly reduce moving-day stress.
14. Create a Moving Box Inventory
If you have a large number of boxes, consider numbering them.
For example:
Box 1 – Kitchen – Plates
Box 2 – Kitchen – Pots
Box 3 – Main Bedroom – Clothing
You can keep a simple list on your phone showing what each numbered box contains.
This makes it much easier to locate specific belongings without opening multiple boxes.
15. Buy Your Packing Supplies Before Moving Day
Running out of boxes or tape halfway through packing can bring the entire process to a stop.
Purchase your moving boxes and packaging supplies before you start packing so you have everything available when you need it.
Depending on the size of your move, useful supplies may include:
- Moving boxes
- Packing tape
- Bubble wrap
- Packing paper
- Permanent markers
- Fragile stickers
- Protective sheets
- Corrugated board
- Furniture protection materials
16. Keep Your Boxes Manageable
When packing, think about the person who will eventually have to carry the box.
A box should be packed securely but should still be practical to lift.
Distribute heavier items throughout several boxes rather than creating extremely heavy cartons.
This makes loading, transporting and unpacking considerably easier.
17. Plan Your Moving Day
Have a plan before the moving vehicle arrives.
Make sure pathways are clear and that boxes are ready to be loaded. Keep important documents, valuables and essential items separate.
If possible, have one person coordinate the loading process while others continue preparing the house.
Good organisation can save considerable time on moving day.
18. Take Photos Before You Leave
Before leaving your old property, take photographs of rooms and important areas.
If you are renting, this can be particularly useful for keeping a record of the property’s condition when you leave.
Also take photos of utility meter readings where applicable.
19. Don’t Forget to Pack an Overnight Bag
If you’re moving into a new home and expect to unpack over several days, pack an overnight bag as though you were going away for a short trip.
Having your basic toiletries, clothes and other essentials available means you don’t have to open numerous boxes on your first night.
20. Make Unpacking Easier
Once you arrive at your new home, place each box in the room where its contents belong.
Start with the essentials and the items you need immediately.
You don’t have to unpack your entire home in one day. Work through one room at a time and keep your packing area organised.
Moving Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful
A successful move starts with good preparation. By decluttering before packing, choosing the right moving boxes, protecting fragile belongings and labelling everything clearly, you can make the moving process faster, safer and far less stressful.
Having the right packaging supplies for moving house is an important part of the process. Quality boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, protective materials and fragile labels can help protect your belongings throughout the move.
Get Your Moving Boxes and Packaging Supplies from Box Store
Whether you’re moving from an apartment, townhouse, family home or office, Box Store offers a range of moving boxes and packaging solutions to help you prepare for your move.
From strong carton boxes and packing tape to protective packaging and moving accessories, we can help you get the supplies you need to pack with confidence.
Planning a move? Get your moving boxes and packing supplies from Box Store and make packing your home easier from the start.
Box Store – Quality Moving Boxes & Packaging Solutions.